Thickened fluids: Factors affecting wastage

There is a putative risk of dehydration in patients with dysphagia in a clinical setting. A common conception is that the thickened fluids provided to the patient are the primary cause of poor intake. Commercial supplements may be better tolerated than domestic versions, primarily due to taste and consistency. Our study compares fluid wastage of dysphagic patients consuming commercially prepared thickened fluids (Resource thickened beverage™, Novartis Consumer Health Australasia Pty Ltd) against standard domestic products, and to compare waste at snack times and mealtimes. A wastage audit was designed to investigate the effect of commercial supplements and timing of wastage in patients admitted to a rehabilitation facility, with dysphagia as assessed using a comprehensive bedside assessment (n = 63). There were no significant differences in wastage between patients supplied commercial supplements and patients supplied domestic supplements. This result was the same at both snack times and mealtimes. A sign...